An affidavit of publication (also known as a proof of publication) is a legal document with certain required elements. Wisconsin statute outlines the following:
The WNA has developed the following sample affidavit for member use:
Electronic affidavits
Wisconsin Act 32 — signed into law on Nov. 20, 2019 — allows for the electronic processing of newspaper legal notices and corresponding affidavits. The law was codified as Chapter 985.12:
(1) Affidavit of Printing. The affidavit of the editor, publisher, printer or proprietor of any newspaper, or of his or her foreman or principal clerk, of the publication of any legal notice, annexed to a copy of the notice clipped from the newspaper in either hard copy or electronic format, and specifying the date of each insertion, and the paper in which it was published, shall be received in all cases as presumptive evidence of the publication and of the facts stated therein.
(2) Time of filing. Such affidavit may be filed with the proper officer at any time after the last day of the publication of such notice, unless the filing time is otherwise specified.
(3) Same. The affidavit of publication of any notice of a sale of real property required by law to be published may be filed, at any time within 6 months after the last day of such publication, with the register of deeds of the county in which the premises are situated.
(4) Fee. The fee for an affidavit of publication shall be $1.
If sending an affadavit electronically, a digital copy of the legal notice should be placed on the blank space of your Proof of Publication form. Additional pages, numbered and submitted in order, may be used for longer notices. The WNA recommends that publishers submit electronic affidavits in PDF format.
For questions regarding affidavits statute please contact WNA Executive Director, Beth Bennett at 608-283-7621 or by email at Beth.Bennett@WNAnews.com.
